View Photos

Related

American president Barack Obama has sent his sympathies to New
Zealand and the victims of the Christchurch earthquake today.

The statement acknowledges a close partnership with New Zealand
and offers help in the quake's recovery mission.

"On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I extend our
deepest condolences to the people of New Zealand and to the
families and friends of the victims in Christchurch, which has
suffered its second major earthquake in just six months," Obama
said.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all those whose lives have
been touched by this tragedy, especially as they search for their
loved ones and work to recover from this disaster. The United
States is a close friend and partner of New Zealand, as evidenced
by the meeting of the US-New Zealand Partnership Forum that was
underway in Christchurch when the earthquake struck.

"To assist in the rescue and recovery efforts, we have agreed to
deploy a U.S. Agency for International Development Disaster
Assistance Response Team, including an Urban Search and Rescue
Team, and we stand ready to provide more assistance as needed.

As our New Zealand friends move forward, may they find some
comfort and strength in knowing that they will have the enduring
friendship and support of many partners around the world, including
the United States."

Headlines around the world

The earthquake that has torn Christchurch apart and left
scores dead has made headlines around the world.

The world's media focused on the death toll and destruction
caused by the 6.3 magnitude quake.

Many also pointed out that the quake was classed by experts as
an aftershock to last September's 7.1 quake which caused widespread
damage but no deaths.

News websites carried the story on their front pages, many with
video or photogalleries as well as text stories quoting Prime
Minister John Key, survivors and emergency officials.

In one update, New.com quoted Australian Prime Minister Julia
Gillard saying the relatives of the 8000 Australians known to be in
the Canterbury area should prepare for the worst.

The Sydney Morning Herald led
with a story headlined: "We may be witnessing New Zealand's darkest
day": PM says 65 killed in quake.

The story quoted Key telling TVNZ that the death toll he had at
the time was 65 and that may rise.

The SMH said: "As thousands of shocked people wandered the
rubble-strewn streets of Christchurch after today's devastating and
deadly earthquake, emergency workers were searching for
survivors."

Further afield, The New York Times had a prominent story under
the headline "Scores Killed in New Zealand Earthquake", accompanied
by a picture of rescue workers searching for survivors through
debris.

The story was datelined SYDNEY, Australia, and quoted officials
and witnesses saying a powerful earthquake struck Christchurch, New
Zealand during the city's busy lunchtime rush on Tuesday,
flattening office buildings, destroying several homes and killing
scores of people.

Frantic rescuers scrambled to reach those trapped in the rubble
hours after the 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck, CNN said. Scores
of shaken residents stood on the streets as a woman trapped on a
pile of rubble tearfully pleaded the crowd to help her, it
said.

"They are coming for you," CNN quote a bystander as saying to
the woman.

CNN's coverage of the quake was a little less prominent than a
story and video about Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi making a brief
address on Libyan television.